The Magical Stone

Chapter 18

   As a few days passed, Shelia, Tina, and Lindsey were cleared from the infirmary as they did their duty to serve for the Empress Lola. Clyde was never found to be punished for his crimes of attempted murder of the knights, for the past murders of killing innocent furs without king Nicolas knowing, and child abuse since Lance confessed to Lola about the horrible memories of what he went through.

   Lola decided to invite the human knights into her kingdom to help hunt down Clyde and for protection as King Nicolas came by to help talk about what to put down into the coexistence treaty with their nobles. However, Lola and Nicolas started to have a little love interest between them ever since they were younger.

   During the afternoon, Shelia was teaching Lance archery at the range. She was able to find a bow for his size from the armory and gave it to him.

"Here is one that is your size." She says.

"Cool." Lance says as he was excited.

"Now, archery is important for every knight to learn since it's faster than using your sword." Shelia explains as she shows him how to fire.

   Lance was impressed as she made a bullseye on the target. Shelia then showed him how to hold the bow properly and to draw and fire.

"Now focus closely at the target, and pull back hard on the arrow. Don't fire yet, aim carefully." She explained more as she guided his arm.

"Ok." Lance says as he aims at the target.

"Fire when you are ready." Shelia says as she lets go of Lance's hands on his bow.

Lance took a deep breath and fired an arrow.

The arrow didn't hit the bullseye, but it hit the inside ring of the target.

   Shelia was impressed that he hit the target on his first try. However, she wanted him to get better at it so she taught him a few tips on it.

   Tina and Lindsey were watching them as they waited for Emma to finish with her duel with Lucinda.

"I knew that Shelia will have a change of heart with Lance from day one." Tina says while drinking some rum.

"True, she wanted him to be the best knight for our empress." Lindsey says.

"He's only five. He's too young." Tina protests.

"Well, have you been hearing rumors about him taking down a few bullies that were twice his size, and him about taking down the Skull Sisters himself. I was pretty shocked that a small cute being like him could do that." Lindsey explains.

"Emma told me about that, and so did the empress, but I am impressed, but it just doesn't make any sense unless he knows how to fight against individuals that are bigger than him." Tina added.

"Well, maybe we can ask Lance about it later without trying to scare him." Lindsey suggested.

"Alright." Tina agrees.

"Hey girls!" Lucinda says as she brings some lunch.

"Hey Lucinda! You bought some mutton?" Lindsey says with some excitement.

"Yep, and some bread and mash potatoes." Lucinda added.

"I'll go get Lance and Shelia." Tina says as she went to the archery range.

Shelia watches closely as Lance was shooting arrows at the target well.

"Lunch time!" Tina called out.

   Lance excitedly returns the bow and arrows to the table and hurries to the picnic table. Shelia snickers a little as she follows him.

"Hungry Lance?" Lucinda asked.

"Yes please." He says while taking his helmet off.

   Lucinda makes a plate as she cuts some mutton and places some bread and mash potatoes on the side and gives it to him.

   He immediately grabs the mutton by the bone and takes a huge bite out of it. The girls giggled as they watched him with his appetite as they helped themselves.

"Any plans for tomorrow?" Tina asked.

"The coexistence ceremony will be ready in three more days, and we have to get things ready for it." Lucinda says.

"Yeah, it's finally time that the wall will be demolished between humanity and us. I'm happy that there is finally peace." Lindsey added.

"Even though I'm a little skeptical about it, I'll give the rest of humanity a chance to get along." Shelia agrees.

"Good. You think the Empress will marry King Nicholas of Humanity?" Tina asks.

"I have no doubt about it. They have known each other for years. I hope they would for the future." Lucinda added.

"Hey Lance." Lindsey calls

"Yeah?" Lance asks after he swallows some mutton.

"Just been wondering to ask this. How were you able to fight others easily?" Lindsey asked.

   Lance wasn't sure how to explain it but decided to no longer keep it secret. He sighed and asked, "Would you believe what I tell you?"

"Of course, no matter how ridiculous it is." Lucinda spoke.

"Well, I found some glowing rock in the empress's garden while I was helping her put the garden tools away." Lance explains.

"A glowing rock?" Shelia asks while a little skeptical.

"What does it look like?" Tina asks.

"It's green as an emerald, and it glows, and when I picked it up, it absorbed into my hand. And that's when I noticed it made me stronger, but the power only wakes up when I'm in trouble." Lance tries to explain.

"Sounds familiar. I had a feeling I read a book about something like that a long time ago." Tina says as she was in deep thought.

"You have?" Shelia asks.

"Yeah. Maybe we can ask about it with the Librarian we know back at the castle." Lindsey suggested.

"Yeah, Cindy can help us out on it. But she is currently on vacation till tomorrow." Tina says as she drinks some wine.

"Well, should we finish our training? That furry hunter is still at large." Shelia says as she finishes her plate.

"We will be fine. I'm getting tired since Emma is good at her wrestling techniques." Tina says.

"We still have time. Besides, I still need to get Lance ready to be one of us at his best." Shelia says.

"Well, can we head to the springs? We were playing knights all morning." Lance suggested.

"Playing knights? This isn't a game runt. It's a huge responsibility to serve our Empress." Shelia says.

"Shelia, remember he's only five." Lucinda says.

"Ok. Maybe we did enough training for one day. The time at the springs will be something." Shelia finally agrees.

"Great! Let's see if Emma can come along." Lindsey says as she went to find her.

   Later during the evening, Clyde went back over the wall into the fur Kingdom as he loaded his crossbow and plans to assassinate Empress Lola during the night.

"For humanity, and for my wife." Clyde says as he sneaks through the woods.